Alright he we go I'll admit this isn't one of my better chapters, but hopefully I'm leading up to some good stuff in a couple chapters. Again I would love for you all to review reading them really does make my day, and of course don't own a thing.
"I love you." He smiled watching our co-workers drive off down the road.
"And what warrant's that statement? Not still convinced you can get out of going tonight are you?" I laughed dragging him back into the house.
"Can't a man say he loves his girlfriend without a reason?"
"I suppose but you always have a reason you never act without some sort of plan." I reminded, "Girls can you run all your birthday presents up to your room real quick we don't want a mess for the babysitter."
"Well I promise there are no ulterior motives when I say I love you." He threw his tux over the back of the chair and wrapped his arms around my waist. "And I think you're so incredibly sexy and amazing."
"You're still thinking about our fight in the backyard aren't you?"
"Yes I am." He kissed me, "I didn't expect you to be so willing, I know how conflicted you are about if it's even worth it."
"It was kind of fun to be arguing." I grinned, "Is it weird that for the most part the only time we fight for real is at work?"
"Probably, but I'm not complaining." His lips found mine again.
"We really are on a tight schedule." I sighed, stepping back.
"Yes we are, go ahead jump in the shower I'll watch the troops."
"You're going to want to shower to aren't you, I mean I'm sweaty and sticky I can only imagine you are to."
"I can wait my turn." He assured, "it won't take me as long to get ready."
"Alright if your sure."
"Of course I'm sure now go put on that dress you've been tempting me with."
I gave him one more kiss before making my way upstairs and showering for the second time today. Maybe Patrick was right maybe we didn't have to go to this dinner I was already tired from the birthday party and in no way ready to have my patience tried by the people at the dinner. It didn't matter what I was thinking, I was going of course I was going I couldn't back out now, and this dress wasn't cheap either. I had wanted something that made it look like it made even the tiniest amount of sense that someone as incredibly attractive as Patrick Jane would chose me. I have to admit I think the long navy single strap dress did a decent job at pointing me in the right direction.
"Well my dear I didn't know we were actually going to the red carpet." He grinned staring as I came down the stairs a little over an hour later.
"I'm just trying to look like someone who belongs at your side." I blushed as he just kept staring.
"Teresa you could go in sweatpants and a t-shirt and still be more than worthy of any man's attention."
"But I'm not with any man, and you are to good at noticing things to have not noticed how god damn attractive you are."
"I'm god damn attractive?" He smirked, "How come no one has every told me this?" Oh his sarcasm was infuriating sometimes.
"How come I get the feeling that people have been telling you that since you were about five years old?"
"Because you are a very intelligent women, who should know that I think she is very god damn attractive and am horrified by the mere thought that she doesn't see it as well." He gave me a peck on the cheek, "And now if you don't mind I'm going to go see if there is anything I can do to look like I deserve to be your escort for the evening."
I was still blushing as he went up the stairs, I gathered the kids up it was a little after four thirty and the baby sitter was expected at five.
"Can you guys behave tonight, you're not going to have one of the babysitters you're used to so I don't want any extra trouble." I explained, "Patrick and I won't be home until after you guys go to bed so I don't want to hear that you fought with her about bed time. I promise when we get home we'll come give you a kiss goodnight but you'll already be asleep."
"Why isn't grandpa Virgil or Miss. Agent Grace going to babysit us?" Alyssa pouted.
"Because they are both going to be at the work dinner with Patrick and I."
"Then who's going to watch us?" Emily frowned.
"You are going to have Travis's babysitter."
"What if we don't like her?" Alyssa wondered.
"Well then you behave tonight, and tell Patrick and I why you didn't like her and we will find you a better babysitter."
"So even if we don't like her we have to behave?" Alyssa continued to pout.
"Yes, especially if you don't like her you have to behave." I don't need them becoming another Patrick who decides if he doesn't like someone it gives him permission to be as rude as he wants with them. Of course he has been trying to behave better, but he will still be Jane and he will always get in trouble. I found that I don't mind so much anymore, he's been keeping me in the loop more and apologizing, at least to me, I still haven't gotten him to apologize to the people he's actually insulted. But any apology is progress.
"Fine we'll behave but we won't like it." Alyssa sighed.
"Why can't you just stay home with us?" Emily questioned.
"That's what I said why can't we stay home with them?" Patrick walked down stairs bow tie lying untied around his neck, I was wrong my dress didn't do him justice. "Stop thinking that thought right now." He demanded, scooting the girls over on the couch to join us.
"You have no idea what I was thinking." I pointlessly argued.
"I do and even worse you know that I know and you still insist on starting this argument."
"This isn't an argument Patrick."
"Really I was hoping it would be an argument."
"And why was that?"
"Because then you might get so mad that we call the whole night off."
"Not happening we're going tonight, the babysitter will be here any minute."
"Fine." He pouted leaning back into the couch, only to have a knock on the door, she was early.
"Don't worry I got it." I rolled my eyes as Patrick took up his usual position of feigning sleep on the couch as the kids ran to the window to check out the new babysitter.
"I wasn't worried."
"Sit up and behave I don't need you scaring sixteen year olds." I instructed, and he just shrugged his shoulders. I guess I would have to settle for that for now he would hear about it later if he didn't behave tonight. I opened the door and was immediately greeted by a cheerful smile.
"Hi you must be Ms. Lisbon." She extended her hand.
"Nice to meet you Katie, I'm so happy you could help us out so last minute."
"Mrs. Williams called at the beginning of the week and said you might be needing some help." She smiled as I lead her into the house, Kendra had called on my behalf that was nice of her and explained why it was so easy to find a babysitter. I would have to remember to thank her next time I saw her. "I have to admit I usually only watch two kids, but I'm sure everything will be fine."
"We were going to put the baby down before we left, and the twins have promised to help if William gets to restless. Everybody's in the living room." I noticed the kids peeking around the corner. "They've promised to behave but if they don't listen just let us know."
"Of course I'm sure they'll behave just fine." She assured.
"Katie I assume." Patrick stood up to shake her hand, "Patrick Jane, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you to Mr. Jane." She blushed shaking her hand all he had to do was smile that's not even fair. We made small talk and soon Patrick and I were tucking Cass into bed a little earlier than usual but she had a long day so she went down pretty easy. When we came back downstairs Katie was sitting with all three kids in front of the couch.
"She fell asleep just fine, and the baby monitor is on the coffee table if she wakes up." I instructed.
"I'm sure she'll be fine." Katie stood up.
"Come here you three we need a hug and a kiss before we go." Patrick gathered the kids into a big hug, before it was my turn.
"Do you have to go?" Emily pouted.
"Yes we have to go." I sighed, those puppy dog eyes were killer.
"Why?" William frowned.
"We made a promise." Was the only answer I could come up with, "And we have to keep our promise."
"For the record I never made a promise." Patrick chipped in.
"I don't want to hear it from you, tie your tie and start walking toward the car." I rolled my eyes, I didn't need to listen to him complain all night, I got the point he didn't want to go. It took another ten minutes to actually get out the door of course that was always the case when we were forced to leave the kids behind.
The first hour or so of the dinner wasn't too bad at all, as expected the team all stuck close together and it was easier to fend off unwanted conversations. Eventually Minelli joined us with May.
"I'm so sorry for last week sir, I didn't have anyone else to call."
"I know how it is cases come up. It's not like you can take the kids with you." He shrugged.
"I know but I had to wake you both up at three in the morning."
"I don't mind, I love spending time with those kids." Minelli insisted.
"Anytime you need someone to watch the kids don't hesitate to call us we need something to do these days." May added.
"I really appreciate it thank you, thank you both." I really was grateful I mean how many people could you call in the middle of the night to take care of four kids while you drive halfway across the state. Soon Rigsby and Van Pelt were on the dance floor and Cho was talking to Agent Wade from the rapid response team leaving Patrick and I with May and Minelli.
"Well excuse me May, Virgil, I think I'd like to steal Teresa away for this dance." Patrick's hand was on the small of my back as he escorted away from my retired boss and his date and onto the dance floor.
"It's not so bad is it?" I laid my head against his chest.
"Not so bad." He smiled, "I'd rather be dancing with you without fear of people drawing the wrong or in this case right conclusions."
"I know, it's just hard. I don't even know why we aren't telling people." I sighed, "I mean I don't know why we didn't tell them in the beginning."
"Because it's none of their business."
"There's more to it than that isn't there?"
"I guess the timing wasn't really convenient, I mean I had just… and then you got the kids. It was all a lot to take in."
"It has been a long summer."
"That it has."
"So what do we do now?"
"I stand by what I said earlier it's not really any of their business, but I wouldn't hesitate to declare my love for you either if that were what you wanted." The song stopped and he stepped away and kissed the top of my hand with one of his stupid gorgeous grins, "Thank you for the dance my dear."
"My pleasure." I rolled my eyes and let him lead me to the nearest table. "And Patrick next time it comes up I'm not going to deny it, but that does not mean you go up and grab any microphones."
"Do you have to ruin all of my fun?" He chuckled, "Oh and may I say I don't know if I like that you are starting to be able to read me so well."
"You weren't actually going to do that were you?" I groaned.
"It had crossed my mind." He smirked, "But hey what's important was I wasn't going to do it. I've already had plenty of attention tonight thank you very much."
"You didn't have to do anything you nodded when Bertram said your name."
"Oh was that it."
"Okay so a couple more people wanted to talk to you."
"Can we go home yet?"
"I think we've paid our due's." I shrugged, it was ten thirty and we had a babysitter who probably wanted to get back to her own home.
"You have no idea how much I love you woman." And with that we said our good byes and made our escape. Getting home bidding the babysitter good night before checking in on the kids and falling into our own bed. I was happy to settle for curling up in his arms and falling asleep it had been a long day.